The United States has positioned its military equipment in the Middle East to launch possible airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Iraq almost immediately

The United States has positioned its military equipment in the Middle East to launch possible airstrikes against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Iraq almost immediately.

“If you can provide me with the appropriate intelligence we can start doing (air strikes) within 24 hours,” Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who served as the Air Force’s first deputy chief of staff for intelligence told the Daily Beast. “There are a variety of means do this, whether you are talking about long-range, high-payload aircraft or smaller aircraft. With the requisite intelligence information you can start again in 24 hours,” he added.

The Pentagon is reportedly moving the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush into the Persian Gulf to provide Obama with options for possible airstrikes against ISIL militants who have captured two provincial capitals this week, namely Tikrit in Salahuddin Province and Mosul in the northern province of Nineveh.

US air bases near Iraq also have dozens of more fighters and bombers. “No question we could strike anytime,” said another senior retired Air Force officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said that the US could also divert its assets from Afghanistan to Iraq.

Obama on Friday said the United States “will not be sending U.S. troops back into combat in Iraq,” but that he would be reviewing a range of other options in coming days.